Did you know that family caregivers provide upwards of 80% of care and support for aging parents or spouses? Phew! That’s a lot of time and energy. When I was seven months pregnant, my father had a massive stroke. The next few months were like a rollercoaster as our family struggled with the many difficult… Read more…
There are some people you meet in life that you remember for a lifetime and who always bring a smile when you think of them. This is always the case with Mr. and Mrs. Johnson. Last night I was out having a beer with a colleague and our conversation found its way to our work… Read more…
Today was a very hard day for me as a gerontologist and case manager. I have a client who has Alzheimer’s Disease. It’s been five years since her diagnosis. She is on the highest dosage of Aricept and is well supported in Assistive Living. She is very functional and maintains a high level of independence… Read more…
Reality is a…. Hmmm…am I allowed to swear in an eldercare blog? I am back from 3 weeks of vacation. A true vacation. The first week back was bliss, riding the high. This week is a different story. Reality has set in and the mountain of work and to dos in my life and the… Read more…
As part of my work as a Gerontologist, I have several opportunities to work with non-profit agencies in BC and in Canada. Many of you may be aware of the work I’m doing with Family Caregivers of BC which is a nonprofit organization dedicated 100% to supporting family caregivers – the first organization of its… Read more…
An African proverb says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Most of us are able to go fast from time to time. We can push the boundaries of our energy and burn the candle at both ends. Then once the urgency is over, we return… Read more…
Recently, I listened to an interesting interview on death and the fear of dying on CBC’s The Current and the emergence of the Death Café, which are popping up in as many as 35 different countries. Given the work that I do, it shouldn’t be no surprise that I think about death frequently. I also… Read more…
Many caregivers ask, “What’s the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease?” Dementia is an umbrella term that refers to the many different types of dementia. Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common type of dementia, accounting for approximately 64% of all cases in Canada. Other types of dementia include vascular dementia, Pick’s Disease, Lewy-Body and Creutzfeldt-Jakob… Read more…
As we approach Father’s Day, I can’t help but think of Dad and my two brothers, who are such exceptional fathers. I’ll be away in France and I’m planning ahead with Carly to make sure her dad feels appreciated for the positive role he plays in her life. The love she has for him… Read more…
Mr. Jones is an 83-year-old widower living in his own home. When asked, he’ll tell you he is doing “fair to middling.” He’ll go on to tell you his legs are tired and wobbly and he doesn’t get out as much as he’d used to. He has a scooter, which gets him to town and… Read more…
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